Sanitation versus Unsanitation
Unsanitary conditions in Restaurants - Restaurants have a natural challenge that just comes with the territory: Cleanliness and food safety. It seems not a day goes by without another horror story in the news about contaminated food products and how the Health Department routinely shuts down restaurants. It hurts the restaurants businesses and all it takes is for a delivery person or a customer for that matter to see a puddle of muck on the floor in your kitchen for a bad word-of-mouth campaign to start circulating about their establishment. The media reports many cases of food poisoning on a daily basis and in spite of the fact that the fast food businesses are flourishing. It seems fast food has become an American way and the public will go on ordering with the expectation that the food has been prepared in sanitary conditions. From bug problems to breeding bacteria, fast food restaurants especially have countless issues behind their counters. One of the most common causes of food poisoning is bacteria transfer, which is due to food not being properly cooked or kept at the proper temperature. With such a demand for fast food, it is often all too easy for the employees to compromise their duties for the sake of saving time, and before they know it, they've served a meal that carries a nasty risk of food poisoning. The rules should be followed every time, not some of the time which is usually the case.
You’re trusting that the food preparer took all the necessary steps to ensure that what we’re about to eat was made with ingredients that are wholesome (not contaminated, past a use-by date etc.) and prepared in an environment that’s clean and sanitary.
Things to note: Ever notice how fast foods restaurants put ketchup, mustards, sauces and dressings in the bag on top of your food. Many have handled those packages; they also lay out where insects such as flies and even roaches crawl over them. Is it safe to put these condiment items on top of your food?
Ever buy a bottle of coke, bottled water or any other beverage in the store and notice how the cashier grabs the bottle from the top to scan it on the register. This is where your mouth goes to drink the beverage. Is it safe to go ahead and drink from that bottle without wiping it off first?
Ever wonder if the people who are preparing the foods we eat in restaurants are really washing their hands thoroughly or have you noticed people who work in the restaurants leaving the restrooms and not wash their hands? (I witnessed a situation like this last week and I immediately reported it to the Restaurant Manager of the restaurant.)
How do we know that the forks, spoons, and glasses we eat and drink out of are thoroughly sanitized?
Ever go to a buffet and observe people coughing or sneezing right over the food?
Ever notice some people who smoke never wash their hands. It’s bad enough that the smoky smell is on their breath and in their clothing but now it’s nothing wrong with washing your hands afterwards.
Unsanitary conditions in Hospitals - Hospitals, nursing homes, and all facilities where medical care is provided are required to adhere to high levels of cleanliness. Failure to maintain a safe and sanitary environment for patients makes them more vulnerable to infection. Sadly, however, unsanitary conditions in hospitals and other healthcare facilities is a growing problem in the United States. In fact, studies have found that unsanitary conditions represent one of the leading causes of infections and diseases acquired in health care facilities every year.
Things to note: Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly before and leaving a medical facility.
Unsanitary conditions in Hotels - Like many of us we love visit and unwind at some of the most reputable hotels with the confidence that they are clean, comfortable and sanitized but that not al ways the case. As a hotel visitor, we hope the hotel room is properly sanitized but to be safe it’s good to bring along some Lysol wipes to wipe down the bathroom counters, toilet seats, the TV remote, the dining table and the door knobs too! How certain do we know that housekeeping really thoroughly sanitized the room. It also good to check the sheets before you lay on them. Often housekeeping doesn’t change the sheets and whoever had the room before you could have stained the sheets in some way. Often times stains aren’t visible so remember to pack a small black light then turn off the lights so that stains can be easily spotted. Also check the mattress to make sure there are so sights of bedbugs. If you see little black or red bedbug debris around the edges of the mattress it might be good to request another room. Bedbugs are gross, no doubt about it. Thinking about creatures crawling around in your bed and eating your blood is a real shudder inducer.
Remember - Salmonella is a type of bacterium disease and the leader of foodborne illnesses. It begins with nausea and vomoting and within 12 to 72 hours after ingesting food tainted with the salmonella virus.
Remember - E Coli is another type bacterial germ that hides in the intestinal tract of humans. It is the first recognized foodborned bacteria associated with the consumption of contaminated meats such as ground beef, salami, and sausage just to name a few.
It should be now very clear as to the importance of safe and clean sanitation and if we practice good hygienic behavior it surely would improve our health.
